It’s weird how classified ads line up sometimes. In just a few minutes of searching, I found two cars today by the same manufacturer, for the same price, with the same body style, the same number of cylinders, and almost the same mileage. They’re just thirteen years apart, and have their engines at opposite ends. The coincidence was too good to pass up, so I’m going for it.
Yesterday’s choices had a lot in common too, but the details made all the difference: Carb versus EFI, manual versus automatic. In the end, putting up with a carburetor appealed to many more of you than dealing with an automatic in an underpowered car, and the Chevy Sprint won easily. Many of you, though, said you’d have preferred the Ford Festiva if it had been a stickshift.
I’d take the Sprint as well, but the automatic isn’t what kills the Festiva for me. It’s the motorized seat belts. I just don’t want to deal with them, or go through the hassle of changing them out. Honestly, though, I’d rather have a Metro (or better yet, a Suzuki Swift) than either of them.
I can’t even begin to imagine how many four-door sedans Chevrolet has built over the years. It doesn’t build any anymore, of course, but for a very long time, a Chevy sedan was a staple in American driveways. Usually they weren’t anything fancy, and they rarely got any glory, but they did their job with dignity. Plain or not, these two were probably someone’s pride and joy once upon a time. Now, though, they’re just old, and looking for new owners to give them a nice quiet life in retirement. Let’s take a look at them.
1961 Chevrolet Corvair 500 – $3,500
Engine/drivetrain: 140 cubic inch OHV air-cooled flat-6, two-speed automatic, RWD
Location: Grand Rapids, MI
Odometer reading: 40,000 miles
Operational status: Runs and drives, needs new tires
Fun fact: My mom’s first car was a Corvair, the same spec as this one, a 500 sedan with an automatic. Hers was light blue, though. Combine that with my dad’s Packards, MGs, Triumphs, and slant-six Plymouths, not to mention the Opel Manta they brought me home from the hospital in, and I guess my love of oddball cars was baked in from the very start. The Corvair was an odd choice for my grandfather to buy for his eldest daughter – he was traditionally a Buick man – but the bare-bones 500 model was right up his alley.
The Corvair is, of course, powered by an air-cooled flat-six mounted in the back, just like a Porsche 911. This will have the basic 80-horsepower version, with a special version of Chevy’s two-speed Powerglide automatic. The odometer shows only 40,000 miles, which may be accurate, considering its condition. It runs well and is drivable, but the seller says it needs new tires. I get the feeling they’re too old to still be safe. And if there’s one car you want good tires under, it’s a Corvair.
The Corvair 500 came with plain vinyl bench seats and rubber floors. This one still has the vinyl, but it looks like someone added carpet to it at some point. I imagine the seats have been reupholstered, too. It looks really nice inside, actually. No one ever added seat belts to it, though; personally, I’d remedy that. I can’t imagine driving a car with no seat belts.
The 500 model also eschews most of the exterior trim that fancier Corvairs wear, and I really like it that way. It’s clean and simple. Someone added door edge trim to it, but that should come off easily. I really like the color of this car, too, and the dog-dish hubcaps suit it.
1974 Chevrolet Nova – $3,500
Engine/drivetrain: 250 cubic inch OHV inline-6, three-speed automatic, RWD
Location: Standish, MI
Odometer reading: 40,000 miles
Operational status: Runs and drives well
The Corvair was a big swing for GM, and it sold well at first, but not as well as Ford’s more conventional Falcon. Chevy responded in 1962 by supplementing the Corvair with the Chevy II, a traditional front-engine design like the Falcon. The fancy version of the Chevy II was called the Nova, and as happened later with the Silverado pickup, the name of the fancy version eventually became the name of the whole line in 1969. And everybody has pretty much called them all Novas ever since.
The Nova models everyone remembers are the high-performance SS, and even more exotic versions like the Yenko. But Chevy sold a hell of a lot more of them in this spec, with four doors and the good old “Thriftpower” inline six. I guess it was pretty thrifty for the time, but it was never anyone’s idea of powerful. The good news is that it’s essentially indestructible, as is the Turbo-Hydramatic transmission behind it. This one was daily-driven all summer long this year, according to the seller, and it did great. It also shows 40,000 miles on its odometer, but there’s a good chance this one has rolled over.
The interior isn’t all that different from the old Corvair, actually: a long vinyl bench seat, crank windows, and a simple dashboard. It’s in pretty good shape, but it looks like it could use a good cleaning. It also looks like the rearview mirror needs to be glued back up. It’s just sitting on the dashboard.
I get the feeling this car was fixed up, repainted, and then damaged in an accident. Most of the paint is shiny, but the hood and left front fender look like junkyard replacements, and the grille and rear bumper are missing. The seller says the floors, rocker panels, and rear quarter panels have been repaired in the past, and it looks like it’s more or less rust-free now. Repaint the hood and fender, get a reproduction grille and find a bumper, and it would probably look pretty sharp.
You probably wouldn’t want to daily-drive either of these, and neither one is a valuable collectible. And they’re certainly not performance cars. But that’s no reason you can’t enjoy taking them out for a drive on a Saturday afternoon. Not everything has to be about how fast something is, or how much money it’s worth. Which one would you rather give your attention to?
The Corvair had me with that rear pic. SO beautiful. I don’t care that it’s a 4 door, has a 2 speed tranny, and is the color of mud.
Tough choice. Both are cars that would leave my metaphorical wallet $3500 lighter if I saw them for sale. This is a definitely a both day.
I think the Corvair is clearly the better deal. That actually looks like a nice example of a Corvair. I don’t see anything I would consider a glaring flaw, much less a glaring flaw at this price point. I should be voting for it.
I voted for the Nova, though, out of personal preference. I have always really liked how this car looks. Styling is a weird hybrid of muscle car (the rear end styling) and budget malaise dorkmobile (side profile, plain wheel covers, front end), but in a good way. I’m not sure this car is worth $3500 due to its flaws (dingy interior, mismatched fender, missing bumper, underwhelming I6, the fact that it is a ’74 Nova, etc.), but I think I could easily get $3500 worth of enjoyment out of this thing. I would buy this car, wash it, and enjoy it as-is.
It’s all dorkmobile to me, but as they say, beauty is in the eye of the beer holder.
Can we talk about the plow in the background of the Covair image? Is it attached to that generic CUV? What is going on there?!
With a donut spare.
I missed that! I saw the exposed steelie on the front and back wheels and didn’t even notice that the back was a donut.
Is it attached? It looks like it’s sitting sideways with a trash can between it and the CUV.
I’m not sure? It almost looks like there might be something extended front where the front bumper would be towards the plow.
Definitely not attached in the video.
I don’t think it’s attached, merely in line with.
Corvair easily wins this one. I’ve personally learned my lesson first hand and won’t be buying any more cars from the 60’s but I still have a soft spot for GM’s experiment
I’m biased, of course, but, obviously the Corvair, as long as it isn’t a rust bucket (topsides look good, would have to see underneath). Mechanicals are easy, parts are cheap and plentiful, the Powerglides rarely give trouble, its more cutting and patching that would scare me away
Corvair all day – for whatever reason Novas do less than nothing for me.
I don’t mind the coupe, but the sedan looks weird and yeah no interest.
Oh, the cheap basicality of that Corvair!
A non Eastern Bloc car with black rubber window seals?
Love it 😀
Old 4-door cars are lame, especially when a 2-door version exists.
I wouldn’t bother to fix up either, but the Corvair could be a fun toy with minimal upgrades. The 4-door Nova looks awful.
We need a thumbs-down option for comments like this
I’m supposed to have learned my lesson from my last Corvair experience, but this example is in great shape for that price. I know it doesn’t matter and doesn’t make it more valuable, but bench seat Corvairs are actually somewhat rare. And the base model trim/lack thereof makes it easier to maintain. I have daily driven a Corvair before and it’s a horrible idea unless you are really good at all the maintenance it demands.
And the Powerglide is fine. Honestly, it’s not that much of a step down from a TH350. It’s enough for that car. Corvairs aren’t much more fun with manual transmissions, so in this case I’d be cool with the automatic – especially with it’s fun, weird shifter.
Just beware. In a first gen Corvair you will not look cool. I’ve lived with not looking cool so I’m ok with it. Heck, I’ve perfected not looking cool in Camaros, Mustangs, Corvettes, Miatas, and more. But if you have inherent coolness, this could cause a slight decline. Enjoy. Someone will buy that car.
The Nova looks fun, but who knows how bad the wreck was? There could be issues.
Never been cool, pretty sure that I this would still up my cool factor. Probably not in comparison to the Roadster though, people think that is super cool, so by association me too apparently.
I forgot there was a 4 door Corvair, but no matter the number of doors, I can’t resist a good clean Corvair.
It started as only a 4 door, the coupe and convertible didn’t come in until about halfway through the 1960 model year
Crazy. I knew they had the van and truck, so I guess a sedan shouldn’t surprise me, but yeah I want the convertible please!
My holy grail is the station wagon, but they aren’t that easy to find in good shape and are kind of pricey when they are
Wasn’t there a wagon also?
My Mother’s first car was a Corvair too – a ’63 white coupe with a blue interior and Powerglide.
When they married, Dad traded it in on an aqua ’65 Chevy II wagon with a three on the tree.
I really don’t want a Corvair unless it’s a coupe or a convertible, and I definitely don’t want that malaise Nova – but find me a nice Chevy II….
The corvair is poop brown so hard to tell if it is rusty but overall just looks to be much better shape then the nova. If the nova was as clean looking I would have voted that.
I’ll have you know that color is known as Fawn Beige. Is that another stage name?
Weather lady name
I can’t pick a 1st gen Corvair when the 2nd gen exists. The 2-speed powerglide just seals that deal.
I’d rather take the crew cab Nova and toss a random small block or LS into it.
Came here to say exactly this. My son and his buddy have been working (struggling) on a 1st gen Corvair and we also have a Nova.
Corvair, easy.
The Nova looks like it might be the start of a project, but the Corvair is just drive it and enjoy.
It isn’t that Corvairs are weird to me, it’s that A Nova Without a V8 is. I want to experience the joy of an old guy derisively proclaiming “now why would you leave it like that?!” Preservation, my friend!
On the other hand at least a couple Corvairs show up regularly to Cars&. And that one is a 2-speed Auto. The Nova at least has another gear.
My Mother made me promise to never drive a Corvair, so Nova it is.
Well. I’d have to go for the Corvair. For reasons.
I wouldn’t cut this one up though, it looks too good.
The Corvair is tidy and respectable, the Nova is … not. I wonder, was a primer tu-tone a factory option on Novas? This one appears to lack the dealer-installed bondo package, though one can never tell without a trusty magnet.
My dad had a ’72 Chevy SS coupé (the Argentine version of this) and by ’79 was bubbling all around the sills and wheelarches. We don’t use salt in Argentina, it was just that crappy. Also, the interior trim was peeling.
Sounds about right!
Maybe all the salt around the margarita glasses?
We don’t drink margaritas here. A robust red wine will not damage your car (unless you drive it after a few glasses).
Dad had a Corvair when he met my mom. Later bought a 74 Opel Manta after I came along, so similar lineage.
I picked the Corvair, for nostalgia and it look like it needs less.
More Opels in this crowd than I anticipated. I grew up in the back seat of a Kadett, and my dad and I completely rebuilt the engine in a 71 GT (which Mom still has).
The Nova is just a generic 70’s, emission choked sedan in not fantastic condition with the least desirable powertrain. No thanks.
The Corvair at least has the benefit of being an oddball. It’s also in far better condition.
Corvair seems more likely to be a basket case and I’ve made a personal pledge to never own a two speed. The Nova wins by a whisker!
Nothing wrong with the Powerglide – you can hit 50 mph in 1st! 😉
Yup my dad’s 57 bel air is a 2 speed powerglide and it handles highway speeds perfectly fine and is a nice cruiser.
Ya’ll are masochists!
Only sometimes (maybe Thursdays or Fridays during a long work week)
There is that, and I’ve experienced that thrill myself.
I’ve always sort of wanted a Corvair. I would prefer a Monza, but at the price point, this one will do nicely.
Corvairs are very pleasant to drive. With less weight in the front end, the steering is manual and direct. 80hp and a two-speed auto don’t sound like much, but the car is light enough that they do okay. Wonderful airy green house and spacious cabin. It’s a neat feeling getting pushed down the road on a couch.
Plus, condition all day long. The ‘Vair looks nice; the Nova looks like a beater.
As a teenager in the latter half of the 1980s a plurality of the teenaged boys I knew had Novas. They were everywhere. A number of them also had a front passenger seat that smelled of peach schnapps vomit.
That is why I picked the Corvair.
“needs tires” on the Corvair means it’s probably been sat for at least 5 years – it’ll need every other piece of rubber replaced on it too. Nova for me.
This one was daily-driven all summer long this year, according to the seller, and it did great